Printer&#39;s gauge



1953 c. c. sAuER 2,647,326

PRINTERS GAUGE.

Filed Oct. 17, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Cfiarvles' 0. Same" ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 4, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENToFFicE Charles C. Sauer, Clarksville, Ind. Application October 17, 1950, Serial No. 190,515

4 Claims.

The present invention relatesflto an improved printers gauge employed in lining up printing forms in a printers chase employed in the printing of books, magazines, pamphlets, and the like soas to assure proper margins on succeeding pages, and the proper centering of the printing thereon. r d

' In accordance with the present methods in practice, when a book or like publication is printed, it is customary to arrange the forms of the type composition in a frame or chase so that a number of the pages of the publication may be presented in unison in a press, and it is necessary, to assure uniformity in the set up of the successive pages of the publication, that the printing forms bearing the printing compositions be exactly aligned in both longitudinal and transverse directions so as to assure uniformity of marginal spaces around the succeeding pages.

The usual procedure employed in lining up the printing forms in such frames or chases has been with the use of an ordinary foot rule and putting in margins that are somewhat close but are not accurate, then seeding the form to the printing press, and pulling a press sheet for the line-up table, the press in the meantime bein heldup awaiting'shifts to be made in the form; and such shifts can be done only after the sheet is lined up and moves are marked thereon of pages of the matter to be printedwhich are out of true. Therefore, it may be said that another. object of the invention is to eliminate press hold-up and to assure the lockup. of forms accurately and quickly.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a simple form of printers gauge, whereby a type form and color form can be lined up readily and easily with accuracy in the lay of the pages, both black and colored, where, in the printing of the pages for a folder, book, magazine, or the like, it is a requisite that the color forms strike into the black form, as Well as the setting with accuracy of the margins of the pages. A .still further object of the inventionis the provision of a gauge of the above-indicated character which is'adjustable in length and suitable for use in connection with any type of printing chase, in both longitudinal and transverse directions, and which is of a highly simplified construction, so that it greatly simplifies the work ofthe printer stoneman in the composing room, not only for the journeyman printer but for the apprentice; and the simplified construction of the device of the present invention renders it readily useable by inexperienced personnel.

of the invention is the provision of a gauge of the above-indicated character which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, readily and easily applied to a printrs chase for page printing of folders, books, magazines, or the like.

One of the principal objects of this invention is the provision of a printers gauge for readily lining up for marginal accuracy printing forms in a chase, said gauge having guide means adjustable with respect to different sized chases, and adjustable margin indicating means settable in accordance with the desired margins of an aligned row of forms across the chasefor accurately positioning said forms, and those of succeeding rows, by simply slidably moving the gauge as to the respective rows extending in one direction, and similarly with respect to rows extending in the other direction, whereby the desired marginal spacesand the forms carried by the chase are expeditiously and accurately ef: fected, without the necessity of repeated mare ginal settings on the gauge.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, and the features of novelty will be pointed. out in particularity in the appendedv claims- The invention will be understood more clearly by reference 'to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a representative embodiment of a gauge embracing the features of the present'improvements.

With these and. other objects in view, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate likeparts throughout the several figures, of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the improved gauge of the present invention applied to a conventional type of printers chase, the view indicating the application of the gauge in both longitudinal and transverse directions.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the improved gauge of this invention (fragmentarily shown), the view showing details of construction of the improved gauge and the adjustingand margin-indicating features thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the device of the present construction.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the device.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation of. the

device, the view being taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, A represents a conventional printers chase, divided into four parts by the usual center bars B and C, and provided with printing forms D.

The improvcd gauge construction of the present invention comprises a triangular hollow gauge bar I formed with a flattened surface Ia, which may be made of wood, plastic, or light weight metal, and which is strong and rigid. Slidably mounted in the ends of the hollow bar I and projecting substantially therein, are similar end members 2. These end membersare formed with end flanges 3 that are adapted to engage firmly the outer periphery 4 of the chase A. The sliding adjustment of the end members 2 permits adjustmerit of the length of the gauge to fit any commercial printers chase. The proper adjustment of the end pieces is fixedby means of set screws 5 that are threadedly mounted as shown at 8 in the top of the housing l, the set screws 5 having an unthreaded endof the shank 6' thereof extending into a longitudinal groove 1 in the top of the end pieces 2, engagement of the shanks 6 with the bottom or the grooves I- eii'ecting. locking adjustment of the end members 2 relative to the gauge bar I for securing the end members in adjusted position. I

The gauge bar I: is provided on the opposite sloping sides 8a with lateral measuring scales '3', which are graduated inv inches, the numerical designations of which increase from both sides of a central graduation indicated by (zero) The gauge. bar I has. a longitudinally extending top slot 9 formed. in the flattened surface la and extending the length of the gauge bar I. indicating pointers Ill depend from integral intermediate perforated. fiat portions I to slidably supported on the flat surface la, and are adapted to adjustably ride over'the scales 8' on both sides of. the gauge bar I. The pointers it are adjusted with respect to the scale graduations 8 and releasably locked in adjusted position by means of set screws I I extendingthrough portions Ida and slot 9' and nuts I2 threadedly carried by pins and earn gaging the. undersides of the surface Ia, thereby locking the pointersv ll! in proper adjusted position relative to the scales 8.

In orderto permit the pointers Iflto be adjusted to the ends of the slot 9', the end members 2', ar formed short of the top of the gauge bar I, thereby leaving intervening clearances (3 for movement of the pointers to and thumb screws It and nuts I2 over the underlying portions or the end members 2. The end locking screws are preferably mounted in upwardly lug members Hi which closethe ends of the slot In using the improved. gauge of the invention. the center 66) of the gauge bar I is placed at the longitudinal center line of, for instance, center bar B, and a pointer I9 is adjusted with respect to the graduations 8' and in alignment with each side edge of the bar, with the end members 72 adjusted with the flanges 3 in engagement with. .the outer edges of the chase A (Fig. l) and with the locking screws 5 in tightened position. The adjusting thumb screws of the pointers designating each side of the center bar B also are tightened to hold these pointers in adjusted position. Then the next two pointers are adjusted relative to the foregoing to points on the scales 8 that equal the predetermined side margins of the pages to be printed, and so that said pointers will be positioned as at (as) indicating the desired space from bar B of the adjacent forms D, then the next pair of pointers are set at the opposite edges of said forms as at (y) and the next pair are set as at (2) indicating the proper positioning of the next forms D to provide the proper spacing of these forms from the forms precedingly set, and which also determines the proper spacing of said latter forms from the sides of the chase, whereby the forms D of the top row E, when locked in their adjusted positions in any well known manner, are set to effect the proper margins. Sliding the gauge bar I longitudinally along the chase A enables each form D of the succeeding rows E to be positioned accurately with respect to the preceding lined-up forms. This assures an accurate transverse alignment of the forms.

A similar procedure gives the proper longitudinal alignment ofthe printing forms D with respect to the longitudinal rows F, the gauge I being applied longitudinally on the chase A, as before, with the central zero point (.0) of the scale on the center line of the transversely extending center bar C the pointers It) being adjusted and locked in position by the screws II as described above, in accordance with the predetermined widths of the top and bottom margins of the pages being printed.

In this manner an accurate alignment of the forms D is assured both longitudinally and transversely on the frame or chase A. When the requisite adjustments and alignments have been made, the forms are secured in their adjusted positions by the use. of suitable furniture and quoins in the usual manner.

The adjustments of the gauge may be applied in similar manner to th alignment of additional forms on other chases for printing the reverse sides of the pages, so that the printing matter appearing on both sides of each page will be accurately coincident.

The invention therefore embodies a single gauge construction for the indicated purpose, which enables a rapid and accurate adjustment of the printing forms, and which may be used quickly and accurately even by inexperienced operators.

While the printer gauge bar device I forming the subject matter of this invention is shown and described in connection with a chase A having the center dividing bars B and C, its use is not confined to this type of chase, and it may with equal facility be used where these bars are omitted, by simply initially setting the (0) or zero point on the gauge on the center longitudinal and transverse or median lines of the chase, and proceed as above described.

It will be apparent from the above description, that I have provided a printers gauge readily settable, and adapted with a single setting to effect accurate line-up and marginal adjustments of all the rows of forms extending in a particular direction, one simple in construction, readily adjustable to different sized chases, easily carried by the printer from place to place, yet manufacturable at a negligible cost and efllcient for the purposes intended.

Although the practice it has been found that the form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment is the most efficient and practical, yet realizing that conditions concurrent with the adoption of the invention will necessarily vary, it is well to emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I desire protected by letters patent is as set forth in th following claims:

1. A printers gauge for use in aligning printing forms on a printing chase or frame which comprises, in combination, a straight tubular gauge bar having open ends, telescopically adjusting end closures carried by the bar for adjustably varying the length of the bar'with respect to any dimension of chase, the end closures having a shape corresponding to the cross sectional configuration of the bar but terminating short of an inner surface thereof defining a clearance between the end closures and the said surface of the bar, locking means extending through the bar adjacent to the ends thereof and the said clearances and releasably engaging the end closures, the said locking means releasably securing the end closure in adjusted position, a retaining flange on the end closures adapted to engage the outer perimeter of the chase while allowing the gauge bar to be moved along the chase in continuous engagement therewith, longitudinally extending scale graduations on the gauge bar, adjustable pointer means mounted on the gauge bar in sliding registry with the scales, the bar having a locking slot extending longitudinally along a surface of the bar and communicating with the said clearances, means for retaining the pointer means on the gauge bar, and screw members slidably mounted in the slot for securing the pointer means in adjusted position relative to the scale, the screw members being interlocked with means beneath the slot for preventing accidental displacement of the screw member from the slot.

2. A printers gauge for use in aligning printing forms on a printing chase or frame, which comprises, a straight gauge bar having planar top and bottom surfaces extending longitudinally the length of the bar with the bottom surface substantially wider than the top surface, continuously extending sides connecting the top and bottom surfaces and diverging outwardly from the top surface to the bottom surface and being coextensive with the length of the bar, graduated scales on opposite sides of the bar, the planar top surface of the bar having a longitudinal slot terminating just short of each end of the bar, a member slidably mounted on the bar along the top thereof, said member having a flat top portion corresponding to the width of the planar top of the bar and side portions depending from the top portion engaging the sloping sides of the bar terminating in pointers adjustable with respect to the scales for indicating the predetermined margins to be maintained on sheets being printed, set screw means in the fiat top portion of the said slidable member securing the said member against the top surface for securing said pointers in their adjusted positions, and telescoping end closures mounted in the ends of the bar and adjustable inwardly and outwardly relative to the bar for adjusting the length of the gauge bar for accommodating the said bar to different sizes of chases.

3. A printer's gauge for use in aligning printing forms on a printing chase or frame, which comprises, in combination, a straight tubular gauge bar having open ends and defining a housing, the bar also having longitudinally extending planar top and bottom surfaces, the bottom surface being substantially wider than the top surface, and side members coextensive in length with the top and bottom surfaces and uninterruptedly joining said surfaces, the side members of the bar diverging outwardly from the top surface to the bottom surface, the planar top surface of the bar being provided with a longitudinal sl-ot extending substantially the length of the gauge bar, graduated scales on the sides of the bar, an indicating member slidably mounted on said surface and having a substantially flat top portion coextensive in width with the planar top surface of the gauge bar and engaging therewith, and having depending side portions engaging the sides of the gauge bar and scales thereon and terminating in pointers engaging the scales for indicating their adjusted positions corresponding to predetermined margins to be maintained on the sheets being printed, locking means carried by said indicating member adapted to releasably interlock with the sides of the slot for securing the pointer members in their adjusted positions, and adjustable end members carried by the gauge bar and telescopically housed in the ends thereof for adjusting the length of the said gauge bar to fit the same to different sizes of chases.

4. A printers gauge for use in aligning printing forms in a printing frame or chase, which comprises, in combination, a straight tubular gauge bar having planar top and bottom surfaces with diverging side portions and open ends, graduated scales on the side portions throughout their length, the top surface being provided with a longitudinally extending slot of slightly less length than said surface, indicator members slidably mounted on said gauge bar, said members having flat top portions seating on and corresponding to the planar surface of the bar and having diverging depending pointer members engageable with said scale surfaces, adjustable locking means carried by the pointer members engageable through the longitudinal slot for locking the pointer members in adjusted position relative to said scales, adjustable end members formed at one end with chase engaging locking members, said end members being telescopically mounted in the gauge bar for adjusting the bar to different sized chases, said end members corresponding in cross-section to that of said bar, the end members having top planar surfaces short of the surface of the bar to provide clearance spaces, the planar surfaces of said members being provided with longitudinal grooves and set screws threadedly mounted in the top surface of the bar at its ends terminating in smooth shanks engageable in said grooves for securing the end members in adjusted positions.

'CHARLES C. SAUER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 595,524 Clough Dec. 14, 1897 1,053,083 Blizard et al Feb. 11, 1913 1,553,001 Nary et a1. Sept. 8, 1925 1,667,444 Smith Apr. 24, 1928 2,226,302 Aswad Dec. 24, 1940 2,433,935 Todd Jan. 6, 1948 

